Not even a monster game from Carmelo Anthony could keep the New York Knicks from dropping a road game against the Orlando Magic. It took 58 minutes (and 2 overtimes) of game action, but the Magic were able to overcome 44 points from Anthony in order to outlast the Knicks, 129-121.
From the opening tip, Anthony was wonderful, scoring those 44 points on “just” 28 shots, including 6-for-10 from three-point range. In addition to the pure scoring output, Carmelo added 11 rebounds, and with some help from four other players in double-digits (including 14 points and 11 rebounds from Tyson Chandler), the Knicks were nearly able to escape.
The reason they didn’t, though, was a big-time effort from the Orlando backcourt. Rookie Victor Oladipo likely had the best game of his NBA career, as the former Indiana Hoosier finished with 30 points (on 11-for-23 shooting), a game-high 14 assists, and 9 rebounds while playing 49 minutes. Oladipo was flanked by stud 2-guard Arron Afflalo, who scored 32 points on only 18 field goal attempts (4-for-4 from three), and the Magic were extremely efficient with 50% shooting from the field and 56% from beyond the arc.
Things don’t get easier for the Knicks, as they will be asked to bounce back quickly from a devastating, 2-OT loss as they take their show to Atlanta for the second game of a road back-to-back on Saturday night. Playoff dreams are likely in deep trouble for New York, but to be honest, that was already the case.